How to Face a Mountain of Fear with Faith

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber Psalm 121:1-3 (NIV)

 

There are many times in this life that we see looming before us mountains that seem impossible to cross. They rise before us, frightening and dark. They come in the form of financial distress, illness, conflicts, and emotional crisis of the heart. At times when we look at the mountains before us we see crevices, caves filled with darkness. We fear the evil that may lurk deep within those crevices or the enemies that might lie within, hidden. Sometimes we look around us, perhaps in hope that we might find someone we can trust to guide us along this journey over the mountain ahead. We may hope that we find it in government. We want to be protected, cared for, and loved. We meet with corruption, lies, and self-centered evil hearts only looking out for themselves.

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What Need I Do to Restore Hope and Peace?

Thus saith the Lord the maker thereof, the Lord that formed it, to establish it; the Lord is his name; Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. Jeremiah 33:2-3

 

God had cried out to the children of Israel, pleading with them to turn from their idolatrous worship. For a brief time, King Josiah lead the people in a revival like they had never seen before. Then, when he died; in his place arose Kings who again turned their back on God. They chose to listen to false “prophets” who said what they wanted to hear. God sent to them Jeremiah to tell them that if they did not repent and turn from their wicked ways, He would send the Chaldeans to destroy their land. They did not heed the warnings! In fact, they threw Jeremiah into a dungeon where he nearly starved to death. And, yes; history tells us the rest. The Chaldean army overtook the city, destroying it. Many were killed and many had already been taken captive by the Babylonians.

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When Evil Surrounds And Faith Arises in Song

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.  Isaiah 61:1-3

 

Today I chose two poems I wrote before.  In this current world, many are suffering under the reign of evil.  We cannot deny the power of corruption, evil and lies that is penetrating into every part of our world.

EVIL SURROUNDS

Evil surrounds

Darkness abounds

Hard pressing my life through each day

Quickening Sounds

Blaring around

Bidding my heart to turn away

 

Lord, let your light shine into my heart

Commanding all darkness depart

Let Your love shine forth then through me

That all evil is forced now to flee

 

Evil Surrounds

Darkness Abounds

Firm in Your Grace I can not sway

Quickening Sounds

Blaring Around

Then You command all fear “Away”

 

It is Your love that presses on

When my strength is fully gone

Remove from me each selfish thought

On that cross my life You bought

 

Faith now Surrounds

Hope, Joy abounds

Your Righteousness shining the way

Glorious Sounds

Praise all Around

Sin’s chains are all gone away

 

Let your love reach through these hands

Feet set firm upon Your Grace I stand

Let your glory shine through me

A light a darkened world might see.

[tweetthis]Our hope is not found in the reasoning of mankind. Our Hope is in God[/tweetthis]

[bctt tweet=”As, we turn our eyes toward Him and lift our hearts in praise to God; we are strengthened” username=”effiedarlene”]

[tweetthis]Only through faith and by God’s Grace, we can overcome evil with good.[/tweetthis]

FAITH

Faith is the hope

When life goes so wrong

Rising from the ashes

To bring a new song

 

Faith is the voice

Whispering into the night

Breaking the fear of darkness

Bringing hope and delight

 

Faith is the strength

That lifts you from the fall

That you might take one more step

Or bound the highest wall

 

Faith is the Gift

Of God’s Unfailing Love

Cradled in His  arms

Sweetest lullabies from above

[bctt tweet=”Wrapped within God’s Arms of Love, we have nothing to fear or worry. Faith is Hope!” username=”effiedarlene”]

photo used courtesy of https://unsplash.com/@ramone  The inscription I added.

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2016

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post.  I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

5 Steps Guaranteeing Hope When Evil Surrounds This World

because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. Romans 8:21-25 (NKJV)

 

Corruption, evil, lies, and great sorrows surround us. I was content to bury my head in the sand and to wear blindfolds to those truths. Perhaps it was easier to go about my life content with knowing that my salvation is secure in Christ Jesus. Oh, yes; I faced many trials within my own life which I came to see as stepping stones to allow me to grow closer to God. And, yes; for a long time, I have been a voice presenting the gospel message to those whom I meet along this journey. Yet, now; I opened my eyes to see around me the depth of chaos, pain, suffering that is devastating our nation and our world. There in the depth of that sorrow; I feel so helpless. I cry out with prayers; pleading to God for His mighty hand of Grace to reach forth. Pleading that He come quickly. Then out of those pleas, I realize how many lost souls are living in darkness; who need to see the light of the gospel. Once more I feel helpless. If only I had more money to give, Lord to spreading the gospel to the world–to reach out and help more hurting souls. But, alas; I have not been blessed with financial riches; though, I have been blessed with God’s daily provision for my basic needs. So again, my question:  What can I do to be a light into the darkness around me?

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Closing Arguments on How to Vote This Election

For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 1 Corinthians 1:19-20

 

As he stepped onto the stage, he looked out over the massive crowd. He was a business entrepreneur, not a public speaker. So often, he was outspoken, raw. He blurted out words at times and certainly had displayed no filter. Yet, there he stood; Simon Peter on the day of Pentecost preaching to the crowd. It was Simon Peter who had been chosen to begin the early church, a movement for Christ. God did not choose soft spoken John to be the spokesman; although, John did have his definite role in the early church. Throughout history, God has chosen sometimes the most unlikely people to be His servant at just the right moment and just the right time.

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Inspiring Joy in Lifes Toughest Moments